Phalaenopsis orchids plant named &#39;Sweet Talk&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Sweet Talk’ particularly characterized by flowers which red/purple with an extra-large labellum; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Phalaenopsis hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Sweet Talk’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Sweet Talk’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, is three-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which frequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Sweet Talk’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventor, Rend Schoone, in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by its attractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Sweet Talk’ originated from a cross made by the inventor in 2003 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Brother Pico Elf’, unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘World Class’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Sweet Talk’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2011 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culture (mericloning) was first performed in July, 2011 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar asexually reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Sweet Talk’, which in combination distinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. flowers which are red/purple with an extra-large labellum;     -   2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;     -   3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using         tissue culture;     -   4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and     -   5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.         In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Sweet Talk’, the         flowers of the female parent ‘Brother Pico Elf’ are small and         purple/violet with white edges in color, the flowers of the male         parent ‘World Class’ are red/purple with white edges and an         extra-large labellum, whereas the flowers of ‘Sweet Talk’ are         lighter red/purple with a haze of white at the edges and an         extra-large labellum.         Presently, the parental cultivars are the most commercially         similar to ‘Sweet Talk’. There is no other commercial cultivar         to which ‘Sweet Talk’ can be meaningfully compared.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis ‘Sweet Talk’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘Sweet Talk’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sweet Talk’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical flower of ‘Sweet Talk’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Sweet Talk’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Sweet Talk’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Sweet Talk’ as grown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Sweet Talk’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of ‘Sweet Talk’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Sweet Talk’ are a minimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of ‘Sweet Talk’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the ‘Sweet Talk’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrida. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Brother Pico Elf’, unpatented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘World Class’, unpatented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Tissue culture.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 3 mm-7             mm wide and greyed/green in color (RHS 190A); freely             branching. It takes 12 weeks for plants growing in tissue             culture to initiate roots. -   Plant:     -   -   Size at maturity.—Height (from bottom of pot to highest             flower): about 50-55 cm Spread: about 20-24 cm.         -   Growth habit.—Standard; green leaves (RHS N137A) and a             relatively normal raceme.         -   Vigor.—Moderate.         -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks             2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after             a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of             about 19° C. about 1-2 racemes with flowers appear. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 6-8 leaves are produced before             flowering.         -   Arrangement and attachment.—Half up/horizontal and on two             sides.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—Oval; the tip is blunt and             asymmetric.         -   Texture (upper & underside).—Smooth and leathery.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Mature leaf length.—About 15 cm.         -   Mature leaf width.—About 7 cm.         -   Mature leaf thickness.—About 2 mm.         -   Mature leaf color.—Upper side: green (RHS N137A). Under             side: green (RHS 137A).         -   Leaf base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel Color of midvein: upper side:             green (RHS 139A) under side: purple (RHS 137B). -   Inflorescence description: -   Appearance: Upright to slightly pendant, racemose inflorescence with     bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open in succession beginning     with the lowermost flower. -   Raceme:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 1 to 2.         -   Number of flowers per raceme.—About 5-10.         -   Length.—About 50-70 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 4 mm. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—About 9-17 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3-4 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Texture.—Glabrous and smooth.         -   Color.—Green (RHS 137B). -   Buds:     -   -   Height (from base to tip).—About 35 mm.         -   Diameter (at midpoint).—About 25 mm.         -   Shape.—Oval with a bump.         -   Color.—Red/purple (RHS 70B) with yellow/green,(RHS 146D).         -   Orientation.—Same as flowers (forward facing). -   Flowering time: For an untreated plant (flowering plant that has not     undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a temperature of     18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after a period of about 30     weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 1-2 racemes appear with flower     buds and flowers. First flowers can be expected approximately 4 to 6     months after planting a plant with a leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm.     Flowers persistent. -   Flowering longevity: On the plant: about 4 to 6 months; lastingness     of cut flowers: has not been observed -   Fragrance: No fragrance -   Flower:     -   -   Rate of opening.—Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3 days             after petal and sepal separation.         -   Orientation at opening.—Slanted upward and outward.         -   Shape.—Typical shape of Phalaenopsis; see FIG. 2.         -   Size (of single bloom).—Height: about 80 mm Diameter: about             80-100 mm.         -   Quantity and arrangement.—Three petals and three sepals that             are trimerous, overlapping and arranged in 2 whorls. Petals             are more pronounced than sepals. -   Petals:     -   -   Arrangement.—Inner whorl comprises 3 petals: 2 lateral             petals and a labellum.         -   2 Lateral petals.—Overall shape: broadly ovate and weakly             cupped Apex: oval Margin: entire and weakly undulate Base:             broadly ovate Length: about 50 mm Width: about 40 mm             Texture: Upper surface: smooth and satiny Under surface:             smooth and satiny.         -   Color (when fully opened).—Upper side: red/purple (RHS 70B)             with red/purple Stripes (RHS 70A) and some white at the base             and on the edges (RHS NN155D). Under side: purple (RHS 76B)             with at the base on the edges white (RHS NN155D).         -   Labellum.—         -   Overall shape.—3-lobed with 2 prominent callosities at             central junction of the lateral lobes and base of the             midlobe. Lateral lobes and the mid lobe extend forward. The             mid lobe is terminated by 2 filiform appendages at the apex.             Lateral lobes and the mid lobe are connected.         -   Margin.—Entire and weakly undulate.         -   Apex of the midlobe and lateral lobes.—Oval.         -   Length midlobe.—About 50 mm.         -   Width midlobe (not flattened).—About 30 mm.         -   Length lateral lobe.—About 30 mm.         -   Width lateral lobe (not flattened).—About 20 mm.         -   Depth of tube created by lateral lobes of labellum.—About 0             mm.         -   Texture.—Upper & under surface: smooth and satiny.         -   Color (when fully opened).—Mid lobe, upper side: red/purple             (RHS 70A), with some purple stripes (RHS 77A) and at the             base some white (RHS NN155D) Under side: red/purple (RHS             70B) with at the base and at the edges some white (RHS             NN155D) Lateral lobes, upper side: At the base white (RHS             NN155D) which runs into red/purple (RHS 70A). The edges are             white (RHS NN155D) and at the base some red/purple spots             (RHS 72A). Under side: red/purple (RHS 76B) with red/purple             stripes (RHS 70B) and at edges some white (RHS NN155D).         -   Cirrhi.—About 9 mm color: white (RHS NN155D).         -   Pestle (Callosities).—Length: about 6 mm Width (not             flattened): about 6 mm Color: main color is yellow (RHS 10B)             with red/purple spots (RHS 71A). -   Sepals:     -   -   Arrangement.—Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals, one dorsal and             two lateral sepals.         -   Overall shape.—Elliptical and weakly cupped.         -   Margin.—Entire and weakly undulate.         -   Length.—About 40 mm.         -   Width.—About 30 mm.         -   Apex.—Oval; lateral is a little pointy.         -   Texture.—Upper and under surface: smooth and satiny.         -   Color (when fully opened).—Upper side, dorsal: red/purple             (RHS 70B) with stripes/spots red/purple (RHS71A) with a haze             of white at the edge (RHS NN155D). Lateral: red/purple (RHS             70B), with red/purple stripes/spots (RHS 71A). At the base             and at the edges a haze of white (RHS NN155D). Under side,             dorsal: purple (RHS 76B) with red/purple stripes/spots (RHS             71A) at the edge a haze of white (RHS NN155D) Lateral:             red/purple (RHS 70B) with red/purple stripes/spots (RHS 71A)             with a white haze (RHS NN155D). -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—About 35 mm.         -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Texture.—Glabrous and smooth.         -   Color.—Starting at the flower yellow/green (RHS 145C and RHS             145D) which runs into yellow/green (RHS 145A) with haze of             red/purple (RHS 70A). -   Reproductive organs: -   Arrangement: The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a single,     short structure called the column, possessing one terminal anther     with pollen grains united into a pollinia, which are covered by an     anther cap. The stigma is located under the column behind the     pollinia. The ovary is inferior with three carpels present. The     plant has not produced seed. -   Column:     -   -   Length.—About 6 mm.         -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Color.—Red/purple (RHS 71A) with white (RHS NN155D). -   Pollinia:     -   -   Quantity.—Two.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Color.—Yellow/orange (RHS 23A). -   Ovary:     -   -   Length.—About 3 mm.         -   Diameter.—About 25 mm.         -   Color.—White (RHS NN155D). -   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.     and to a high temperature about 30° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Sweet Talk’, as illustrated and described herein. 